Blowing Wind 

Artwork based on nature can take many forms and serve many purposes. Because “nature” is such an immense topic that encompasses so many things, I can only provide a partial list of the various sub topics that may appear in nature-related artwork:

https://www.art-is-fun.com/nature-in-art

Nature can be a simple add on to a painting to convey a sense of depth, or perspective. However, it can also be the main focus of a work of art. Just like nature can be recreated through art, it can also be used as a stand in for greater thought.

https://artsandculture.google.com/usergallery/nature-in-art/uwJidv1SCRiXLw

Here I am again talking about art and nature. I can’t seem to disconnect the two. I know there are a lot of others that feel this way also. I don’t want to diminish anyone else. In this blog, I will give reference to other artists and blogs. My opinions here are my feelings and thoughts and how I have developed my art and connection to nature. 

This past week I was working at getting back into teaching art and having art-type meetings. I was able to paint some and sketch some botanical images for watercolor greeting cards. I tried to fit my art around some personal projects also. On Friday, I had a garden designer come to have him draw a plan for re-designing landscaping and changing out some plants in my backyard. I had the 3 oak trees in my backyard trimmed awhile back to allow for more sun to get to my 2 wooden raised beds that I use for flowers and a big metal raised bed that I am hoping to fill with vegetables. Working with a designer to get things in the right places and have some of the work of planting done will help me. I move kind of slow as I need help with some of the heavy lifting. Friday after the designer left, I settled into a quiet evening at home with my family. Mid movie after dinner a wind storm hit. My son and I went out and took down the umbrella. We had no idea that so many of my potted plants would be blown off of shelves and stands on the patio to break and leave my plants without secure homes. The wind blew all night and destroyed so many trees and bushes around my neighborhood.  I found out later that our city lost 100 trees. The power went out and it was out for 3 days and nights. The wind was not what I’ve seen before (75MPH Gusts of 90-100MPH), other than when I was a kid in Chino, CA back in the late 50’s. There would be Santa Ana winds that blew so hard  you could not see anything for the dirt flying everywhere. I remeber one time walking home from school, I was young, maybe 3rd grade, and I had a long walk home. The wind was so strong, I remember feeling like I was going to be picked up and blown away like a big sail on a boat. Our rural area was having sewers put in and on my path home were 6ft deep ditches. I jumped down in one and walked home until I came upon two workers. They thought I was crazy and lifted me out right near my house. I was lucky in many ways. 

The wind last Friday night was worse than that wind back in Chino when I was a kid. On the third day, I looked for a place to charge my laptop and phone. I had exhausted all batteries and battery powered chargers. I had given up on worrying about all the food in the fridge. As I drove, I saw so many beautiful trees up-rooted and some torn to shreds. Debris was everywhere. Piles of leaves ripped off bushes, plants and trees all over the street and walkways and smashed houses and cars, made me sad. Some of the larger trees were uprooted and had no chance of surviving. So much beauty lost to that wind. Nature destroyed nature. Less nature to enjoy and take comfort in or be inspired by. We are alive, at least I’ve not heard of any human injuries. For the most part, we are ok. I am sad for the nature that has been destroyed and I am sorry for everyone that has lost power and how many in California that have suffered losses with this wind. For me the loss of trees, bushes and plants has hit me hard. As I walk my neighborhood and see all the destruction I hope my neighbors will recover.

I was one of the lucky ones. I didn’t have too much damage. Homes in my neighborhood have roofs caved in.

As I continued with my clean up of broken pots and re-potting plants I won’t be creating today. Sweeping up small branches and twigs, I know I’ll get back to creating, but for now I’ll send this blog.

Enjoy your nature and appreciate it. If you are in the wind-torn area, I’m sending good thoughts to you. Create when you can. Let nature bring you peace and inspiration. Here’s a bit of pretty after the storm: